Thursday, February 22, 2007

OK, I'm guilty. I've been neglecting my blog. I used to wonder why people suddenly quit blogging. Now I know why. They just get busy with their lives. They are so busy living that they don't have time to write about it.

Lately I just want to write things that are more ambitious. Things that can't be written in an hour. It is just so tempting to spout off when have you this forum where you can write something and see it published instantly. But people take years to write novels and memoirs. They spend hours agonizing over word choices and what details to include. And I realize I want to do that. I want to spend the time and really do justice to what I have to say. If it takes six months, then it takes six months. There's no hurry. I want to really write instead of just documenting whatever half-formed ideas are floating around in my head.

And I do want to be more personal. I don't want to shut off my life to whoever reads this. I do want it to say something about who I am. I don't want it only to be a space to paste up whatever fun links I come across. Which it seems to be lately. But the shocking self-revelations will come when there's time. So stick around.

Monday, February 19, 2007

Anyone ever tried Jones soda? I bought a bottle of Jones Soda Co. root beer at 7-11 yesterday. The text on the label is amusingly honest:

"Ya gotta make a living somehow; we chose the beverage world. Good old soda with a twist. No hidden meaning, no billion dollar ad campaigns. At Jones, we want you to buy a lot of soda and recycle the bottles. The labels are kind of like our minds--always changing. Run with the little guy...create some change. www.jonessoda.com"

Saturday, February 17, 2007

On Wednesday I went to see a concert at the Plaza Theatre. Finally, I got to see this theatre I have been hearing so much about. It really is amazing. It’s the most elegant concert venue I’ve ever been to. A neon sign beckons you in from the streets of Downtown El Paso. Inside, the theatre looks brand new yet it still feels like you have stepped back in time. In 2006 the final touches were made to restore the theatre to its original 1930s Southwest-style décor, and the restorers did an excellent job. The brown diamond-shaped tiles in the entryway are the perfect color and pattern. The walls are brown plaster and adorned with paintings and photos of El Paso notables. The lobby is impressive with its plush carpeting, lovely staircase, frescoed ceiling, and beautiful chandelier. Dim lighting lends an air of anticipation. Even the restrooms have an old-fashioned elegance with marble stall doors and silver soap dispensers.

Inside the actual theater, the décor makes you feels like you are in a courtyard of a Spanish-style house. Fake windows and rooftops appear on either side of the rows of plush red velvet seats. A sky with clouds is projected onto the ceiling. When the lights go out, the ceiling is lit up to look like a night sky full of stars. The stage itself is framed by ornately carved columns. A place like this makes me think about what it must have been like in the ‘30s and ‘40s when going to the movies was a special event complete with organ music. The stage seems smallish for a concert but it’s enormous in comparison to most movie theater screens.

I’ve never been to a concert where the venue itself makes you feel like you’re about to see something really exciting. Most concert venues I’ve been to are boring, modern, and industrial, but this theater is classy, charming, and beautiful. In my opinion, this is the place to see an event in El Paso. At the end of the night I didn’t want to leave.

The Plaza Theatre website has information on the interesting history of the theatre. There’s also a really cool virtual tour where you can actually “look” inside the theatre. Worth checking out.

Friday, February 16, 2007

NY Times article about getting in the audience for various late-night shows. Of Conan O'Brien, Ben Sisario writes, "Even paler and more boyish than he appears on screen, he was also doubly zany and energetic in his own crowd warm-up." Paler than he is on TV? That's hard to imagine.

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

My mom loves Valentine's Day. Every year she gives me a gift--usually a card and some candy, sometimes jewelry. This morning I saw she left me a pretty blue soda fountain glass full of Hershey's chocolates and a card. Aw, my mom is so sweet. My mom is of the school of thought where Valentine's Day is for everyone. It's for family and friends, classmates, co-workers. She has a very generous way of thinking.

And then there's me. I'm pretty sour on holidays in general, but this one in particular. I think Valentine's Day is for one set of people only (lovers), and not belonging to that set, why should I celebrate? I buy all those conspiracy theories about Valentine's Day being made up by candy and jewelry companies. Yeah, I'm cynical.

But not that cynical, at least not this year. Not to seem ungrateful, last night after she had gone to bed, I set out a dozen pink roses and a giant Valentine's Day card for my mother. Since a day can mean different things to different people. And Mom always deserves flowers :-).

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Three things I wish still aired on VH1:- Behind the Music. Ninety percent of what I know about music I learned from BTM. Seriously.- Pop-Up Video. This always resulted in some laughs. I'd rather watch this (either old or in some new form) than another airing of I Love the 80s.- Music videos before 1 a.m. Why must a person stay up late to be current on music videos?